What on earth can I wear for my wedding?

[Elephantofsurprise]

We are planning a low key wedding at the town with a big party for friends and family afterwards.

I think I do want a wedding dress but not set on a traditional one. I am worried that I will look like a hippo as I have put on a lot of weight since having DD (who is now 2). I am about a size 14-16 with big boobs and a massive tummy. I read that bridal sizes are tiny.

I would like to be able to try things on rather than ordering from the internet. We are going to spend less on the whole wedding than some people spend on their dress but I do want something nice. I probably have about £500 to spend.

Are there any good shops you can go to? I am basically clueless.

@Elephantofsurprise John Lewis would be a great place to start 😊
I knew there was somewhere I had forgotten in my original reply - Coast also have some lovely options 😊

Im the same with dresses - I have quite a large abdominal separation that I was left with after having DS so depending on the cut of the dress it can make me look pregnant 😅 But I did feel really happy with my Monsoon one 😊 hopefully you get something you love!

A friend of mine got married in a Hope & Ivy dress, similar size to you and she looked gorgeous. Cheap too!

Also Needle & Thread have some lovely dresses in that price range.

My daughter did this- didn't actually buy one there, but it was a great way of trying on various styles without any high pressure sales talk. She bought a second hand one from Ebay in the end - a tea length dress that looked beautiful on her, and she's not exactly sylph-like. Medium height and size 18.

The only word of warning with trying on second hand in a charity (which is a great idea) is that dresses have often been altered so you might find that size X in brand Y fits you perfectly but that it has had extensive alterations. Also my friends daughter got really depressed trying on second hand wedding dresses because she was having to size up but it hadn't occurred to her that the dresses had been reduced from their original sizes.

I didn’t like the concept of a wedding dress.

Found a brilliant local dressmaker and with her designed my own based on multiple designs/patterns - so think this sleeve, that bodice, that skirt but with pockets, that detachable train etc

Total freedom over fabrics and design.

Was 20 years ago and I spent £1500, so probably more now.

The killer was after the wedding I had it altered to make it mid-length and some of the embellishments removed.

Wore it for the next 10 years for special occasions (wasn’t white btw as didn’t want that, v pale vintage gold silk).

Cost per wear…cheapest dress I’ve ever owned.

This is a good idea. I hadn’t thought about charity shops. It would be worth a try. I quite like the idea of a tea length dress as well.

This is a lovely idea and I am pleased for you but it sounds like it would be too expensive for me.

Hope and Ivy have some lovely dresses. This one is gorgeous but sadly backless.

https://hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/bridal/products/the-ottilie-embellished-maxi-dress-slit-skirt-waterfall-sleeves

But they do other ones that are not. I like the embroidery. I think some of the simple plain ones are a bit boring.

https://hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/bridal/products/the-maddie-embellished-bridal-flutter-sleeve-plunge-neck-maxi-dress

This is lovely